| | |  | Home Business Electronics | Home » » Plantronics UPCALISTO Bluetooth Headset | | | | | | | Description: | | Plantronics Calisto Pro Series Cordless VOIP and Home Phone with Multi-function Bluetooth Headset | | | Features: | |
• Hands-free phone system allows you to answer your landline, mobile, and VoIP phone calls with one device
• Operates on DECT 6.0 frequency for superior range, sound quality, and security
• Download contacts directly onto the phone from Outlook or Apple Address Book (with Mac-compatible software)
• PC software compatible with Skype and Yahoo! Voice and most enterprise IP softphones. Mac software compatible with Skype.
• Backed by a 1-year warranty
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 10.25 inches | | Product Width:
| 5.5 inches | | Product Height:
| 7.38 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.32 pounds | | Package Length:
| 10.1 inches | | Package Width:
| 7.4 inches | | Package Height:
| 5.6 inches | | Package Weight:
| 2.6 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 129 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 129 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
112 of 115 found the following review helpful:
 Great concept; just not perfect for the priceDec 20, 2007
By Irene Bevilacqua
"irbrenda"
I guess I'm the first reviewer on this as I could not find anything on this myself before purchasing. My needs are a home-based business and I'm constantly on a headset taking orders and dictation. My wired headset got very staticky and annoying as each time I went to answer my phone and reach for the headset, the wires would pull at everything in its path! I'd answer my phone with half my desk stuff on the floor!
I received the unit today and the packaging was the first thing that caught my attention. It's in a trifold type package...the actual handset on one side, the base and handset on the other and underneath are the connections and an installation CD for Outlook. In the middle of the packaging is a slot on the side which contains the instructions.
It was a no-brainer to set everything up: install the supplied battery into the back of the handset, plug in the telephone wire to the base and the jack, plug in the power, charge the unit and also next to the handset on the same base is the charger/holder for the headset, a nice all-in-one unit.
The handset started to charge immediately, even though it came half-juiced for use already. The headset was another story: I kept having to reseat the unit on the little plug, where the light on the headset was supposed to be red for charging, and then blue when completed. I had no lights and obviously the unit was not seating properly. I had to fiddle with it until it was firmly attached to the connector and then the light turned red, indicating it was charging. It was supposed to take 16 hours for a full charge but it took barely 3 hours. Both the handset and headset charged very quickly.
The headset can be worn on either ear and it takes a little adjusting to get it to fit nice and snug. Once it's in place, it's very comfortable, so much so, you forget it's there.
Answering the handset and transferring to the headset was very easy. It's very very different, more like a cell phone than a home phone. There's caller ID/call waiting, a halfway decent speakerphone. You can use the handset in the base to answer and dial using the speaker button..very convenient. However, I had to make the volume at almost full volume...maybe it's me. The headset is very clear but I absolutely hear some fuzzing and a slight buzzing in the background as does the receiving party. The first few calls I made were very annoying because I was very aware of the background noise. Again, it's not like house phone quality but more like cell phone.
I then decided to try installing the recommended DSL line filter, something I never had to do with any other phone on this line. It has definitely improved the call quality and lessened the background noise, although it's mildly there. I'm glad my hearing is not as sharp as it was 25 years ago!
The only thing I miss is what I had on my Panasonic cordless before this: name announce ID. I guess you can't have everything. So I left my annoying Panasonic hooked up so I can hear who's calling.
Also, since this unit is next to my monitor on my desk, I need to glance at the incoming number, even though I now hear who's calling, but the base rests slightly angled, too low for me to see very brightly, even with adjusting the contrast to the highest. It's fine when I pick up the handset which clips upside down on a belt or waistband and flips up so you can see who's calling while walking around. But I put one of those elevated foam phone rests to raise the base angle for better viewing.
There are 10 different ringers also.
Other than the small inconveniences, so far it's working out for me. The headset is supposed to stay charged for 8 hours before recharging it. I can't say yet how long it has lasted. I will know more in a few days and I'll post back if it's anything less or way unsatisfactory.
Neat unit, great to be wireless, I can get by with the minor things. Price is steep and I guess I expected just a bit more volume and less fuzziness but I love the convenience.
74 of 79 found the following review helpful:
 DTMF doesn't workJun 02, 2008
By K. Nakamura
Why did Forbes list this in the top 7 cool bluetooth gadgets? Probably because they never tested it.
Phone design is good in terms of ergonomics.
DECT range is good... this is the handset to base connection... but this is inherent with any DECT 6.0 system.
Bluetooth headset works ok.
Voice Quality seems to be acceptable even despite the fact that your voice is being transmitted through bluetooth, then DECT.
Handset OS is outdated, even a cheap cell phone is better.
Biggest problem, DTMF doesn't work. This means when I check voicemail and punch in my passcode, the voicemail system does not recognize the digits. Why? Because the phone does not meet the standard DTMF specification, which means any tone detector on the receiving side cannot detect the digits. I believe this is primarily because the tone length produced by the Calisto Pro is not long enough. I use this phone for conferences all the time, and because of this DTMF problem, I have to dial into the conference bridge with another phone, then transfer to the Calisto Pro. I asked tech support if they are planning to do a SW upgrade because obviously this issue makes this phone unusable for most people, there was no response from Plantronics.
38 of 39 found the following review helpful:
Excellent package for soho usersDec 30, 2007
By Gregory M. Li
"gregoryli dot com"
I bought this for my Mom since she's going to be working from home and on the phone a lot. I started out looking for just a headset but eventually ended up buying this after weighing all the options. Basically, I wanted to find something that had long-range wireless headset, a speakerphone and wouldn't interfere with the home Wifi. A bluetooth headset that could be used with a cellphone was a bonus.
The Calisto seemed to have it all, and on top of it all it was all neatly integrated. I considered cobbling together cordless phones, wireless headsets, etc, but I know from experience this usually results in headaches from all the minor interoperability problems. Initially I balked at the price; however, after looking at all the options the price actually seemed pretty reasonable. It costs about as much as a nice Plantronics wireless headset plus a good phone, so it seemed worth it since it shouldn't have any problems "working together".
What impressed me most is that it just works. Normally I have to set up tech stuff for my Mom, however she had the phone all set up and working before I could even ask if she needed help. You just plug it in and it works. Headset sound quality was good- nothing I could find to complain about. The range is also decent- using the headset only (not carrying the handset) it's possible to walk around most of the house without losing signal. Of course, with the handset I would expect one could be doing yard work and still get great call quality. We also tested pairing the headset to both the Calisto and a cell phone. It took some time to work out the specifics of what buttons to press on what device for various situations, but in the end it worked as expected.
The only complaint I have is that the headset charger connection is very finicky. After replacing it on the charger base, the charging light will initially go on only to go off a few seconds later. It's usually necessary to lightly tap the headset to seat the charging connection properly, after which the light should remain on.
Finally, in addition to the requisite functionality, it has nice bonuses like DECT cordless, works with VOIP, uses a Bluetooth headset so you can handle calls from both landline and mobile calls, and looks nice. All in all, this product works well and was worth the cost.
30 of 30 found the following review helpful:
Just what I was looking for (with a few nitpicks)Jan 15, 2008
By Brett Gaspers
I had just ordered a GN Netcom 9350 DECT wireless headset when I saw this phone. It sounded exactly what I was looking for in a wireless phone/headset combo (vs. using the 9350 with my existing corded phone), so I ordered this as well. Short answer is that the GN Netcom headset is going back and I'm keeping the Plantronics.
The range on this DECT phone is great - much better than the 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz cordless phones I've had before. I can walk all over my yard (1/2 acre lot) and still get a good connection. Headset range is also good. I can get about 20 feet away from the cordless unit before callers start to hear some sound breakup (but can still hear me fine).
The headset is very good - nice and light on my ear. Sound volume (both incoming and outgoing) was fine. Many people complain that BT headsets are too quiet, but I am always able to get an acceptable sound level out of this headset.
The cordless phone interface is decent, I'm probably the least enamored with this. It was easy to set up and has good features. However, as the reviewer above noted, it's hard to see the display given the angle it's at on the desk. The display is also not very big, so you have to crane your neck over to see who's calling. It would be nice if Plantronics changed the design to angle the phone up more (many of the other cordless phones you see stand vertically in the base, which would give a better view, but also make it impossible to dial with the phone in the base).
Another thing I don't like is that the buttons on the phone are TINY (and hard to read, though they are backlit). This makes it hard to dial (harder than most cell phones). Plantronics, couldn't you have made the phone a little bigger and put bigger keys on there? I think these are the smallest keys I've seen on any cordless phone.
Finally, it would be nice if this phone would work with Mac OS X Sync Services so you could sync contacts over to it like a cell phone. Instead, you have to use a separate Windows program to move contacts over from Outlook. If you don't use Outlook, you're out of luck and have to set up your address book with yes, those tiny keys.
You also have to use another program to use the headset with Skype or other PC-based VOIP programs, but my computer has Bluetooth built in, so I just paired up the headset with my computer as well as the cordless phone, so I can switch back and forth with no problem (and no lame Windows program needed).
If Plantronics addressed these points with a follow-on product, it would get 5 stars from me.
31 of 32 found the following review helpful:
 Finally - a phone designed for real people!Jan 04, 2008
By Cliff Atkinson
I've been searching for years for a phone for my home office that has a speakerphone, cordless handset, cordless headset and supports my phone company caller ID. The professional phone systems I've seen have a clunky handset lifter that is outdated in our high-tech age. Finally, this phone delivers exactly what I'm looking for (well, almost - I would also like the option to have a over-the-head headset, but I quibble). But the best part is that it is thoroughly well-designed. Every other phone that I've had, I needed to keep referring to the user guide to do the simplest of things. But this phone is not only simple and elegant - it's extremely intuitive. Once you open up the Apple-like packaging, you plug it in and it works. When I set up my voicemail and used the included software to transfer Outlook contacts, I didn't need the manual. The ability to use the headset with my mobile phone, as well as answer VOIP calls, make me that much more glad that I finally found the phone that I was looking for. Thanks, Plantronics, for designing a phone that a real person really loves!
See all 129 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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